About Mike & Taylor

If there's one thing every dog owner has in common, it's the heartfelt desire to give our dogs the best life they can possibly have. When we saw our Golden Retriever (Copper) beginning to slow down and transition into his senior years, we were determined to make his golden years (shameless pun intended) the best years of his life. His brother from another mother—an energetic German Shorthaired Pointer named Mason—was also eagerly on board with the ambitious (if not crazy) idea we had in mind. And so the adventure began, and in March of 2016, we sold our house in Conifer and made the move to our very own ranch here in Nathrop, Colorado. We haven't regretted our decision for one day since then, and Copper and Mason couldn't be more excited to show your four-legged friend all around their land.

Our ranch is made up of 43 acres, split equally between gently rolling pasture on the eastern half, and a dog's dream forest on the western half. We have two creeks that run through the property during the spring and summer months, perfect for a quick drink or cool-down, along with a seasonal pond to socialize with the local frogs. We've built a trail system on the ranch that dogs love to explore, making several loops that are long enough to tire even the most energetic pups. There are ravines to check out, squirrels to chase, bushes to sniff, chipmunks to be taunted by, and enough trees to keep even the most ambitious pooch busy marking for years. We have horses, goats, and chickens on the ranch as well, but they all have their own barns, coops, and fenced areas, so you don't have to worry about your pooch coming home with feathers in his mouth.

Our home is a cozy 1,200 square foot log cabin that was built in 1885. We renovated the cabin with dogs in mind, so they always have free-choice doggy door access to come inside if the weather turns bad and they need a couch to take a power nap on, or to simply go outside and play as they please. While our property is fenced, and our own two dogs are extremely friendly and social, we prefer the peace of mind of providing constant supervision. We both work from home so we're always here to watch your beloved family member.

So what does a typical day look like? We like to give our four-legged guests the full dude-ranch experience. After a hearty breakfast, they'll get to spend miles walking the property with us, stacking hay with us, mucking the horse stalls with us, mending fences with us, listening to country music with us, and if they end up falling in love with the captivating melodies from George Strait, there's always an extra cowboy hat laying around that they can throw on. When the sun goes down, there are 3 couches and 2 queen beds to call dibs on, or they can simply snuggle up in bed with us. If your pooch feels safer in his or her kennel, we welcome you to bring it, along with an old t-shirt that smells like you to help give them a restful night of sleep. We want your pup to feel relaxed, free, and having the time of his or her life. Our goal is for your pup to leave our ranch with memories he or she can dream of for months or years to come, and an eagerness to come back to the ranch the next time you find yourself in our neck of the woods. We'll also send photo updates to your phone so your pooch can show off all the fun they're having on their vacation.

Where We're At:
Our ranch is conveniently located halfway between the two quaint mountain towns of Buena Vista (12 miles north of us) and Salida (12 miles south of us). Our home is located right off of Highway 285, so drop-offs and pick-ups are simple. We're surrounded by the world-famous rafting and fly-fishing Arkansas River to the east (along with Browns Canyon National Monument), Monarch Mountain ski area a mere 25 minutes south, and endless hiking, 4x4, horseback riding, mountain biking, and plenty more adventures in all directions.

A few final words from us:
Taylor is 28 years old and Mike is 29 years old. We're happily married and excited to add to our (human) family in the next few years. We've each had dogs since the day we were born and have a deep love and passion for animals. We know how important your dog is to you, and we promise to treat your pup just like our own. There have been two occasions in our lives where we had no choice but to take our pups to so-called "dog camps", which were little more than a room full of small kennels, concrete yards, and an atmosphere filled with incessant barking, nervous anxiety, and overwhelming stress for both dog and owner. Each time we vowed to never put our dogs through that again, and we vowed to help other dog owners avoid those same kinds of stressful scenarios. We welcome you to come visit our ranch and see for yourself the fun that your dog will get to have. Who knows, you might even decide to skip your plans and spend the day here on the ranch as well!

We're open to caring for other animals as well, so just ask us. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us or message us. We can't wait to meet you and your pup(s)!